A HWID ban in VALORANT is one of the strictest penalties issued by Riot Games. It doesn’t just target accounts—it targets your physical hardware. This type of ban prevents you from accessing the game even if you create new accounts, making it especially devastating. In this comprehensive guide, we explain everything about HWID bans in VALORANT, including how they work, how to fix them, and which components to change to bypass them completely.

Why Do HWID Bans Exist in VALORANT?

Riot Games has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward cheaters, serial griefers, and ban evaders. When traditional account bans fail, Riot escalates to hardware-level bans. A Hardware ID (HWID) ban is issued when Vanguard—the game’s anti-cheat system—detects malicious or repeated rule-breaking behavior.

Common triggers include:

• Usage of third-party cheat tools
• Boosting or win-trading
• Repeated ban evasion via alt accounts

Once flagged, your PC’s hardware ID is blacklisted. Any account played on that system may be instantly banned. Players often ask: “how do valorant hwid bans work?” The system relies on serial numbers and MAC addresses from your motherboard, hard drive, and network interface to detect recurring violations, making it difficult to re-enter the game without changes.

Understanding How Do VALORANT HWID Bans Work?

Vanguard, the Riot anti-cheat engine, runs at the kernel level and collects metadata from various hardware components. The ban is enforced by identifying a combination of:

• Motherboard ID
• SSD/HDD serial number
• MAC address of the network adapter
• CPU serial number

Once a ban is enforced, any Riot account that logs in from that hardware is instantly flagged. Thus, simply reinstalling the game or creating a new account will not work unless the hardware fingerprint is changed.

How to Know if You Are HWID Banned VALORANT

Many players confuse account bans with hardware bans. If your account was banned and you try to create a new one but it also gets banned after just one or two matches, you may be HWID banned. The question arises: “how to know if you are hwid banned valorant?” Clear symptoms include repeat bans on fresh accounts and specific disconnection errors tied to hardware ID re-flagging.

Signs of a HWID ban include:

• Receiving the same error code repeatedly
• Disconnects followed by a permanent ban message
• No response from Riot’s appeal system

These symptoms strongly suggest a hardware ban.

Is VALORANT HWID Ban Permanent?

Not all HWID bans are permanent. For first-time offenders, Riot often issues temporary bans, lasting around 90 to 120 days. However, repeat offenders or those involved in severe exploits may face permanent HWID bans, which can only be circumvented by spoofing or replacing the hardware.

Valorant HWID Ban Length and Recovery

The typical valorant HWID ban length for first-time infractions ranges from three to four months. If you haven’t committed multiple violations, there’s a chance the ban will lift automatically after this period. That said, during the ban period, any attempt to access the game from the same machine can lead to an extension or a permanent ban.

What parts need to be replaced to remove the HWID ban in VALORANT?

To successfully bypass a HWID ban without spoofers a common query arises: “what parts do i need to replace to remove hwid ban Valorant?”. You’ll need to replace several key components of your PC that Vanguard tracks:

Essential Hardware to Replace:

1. Motherboard – this is the main identifier.
2. Primary Drive (SSD/HDD) – serial numbers are tracked.
3. Network Adapter / MAC Address – necessary to avoid connection fingerprinting.
4. WiFi Dongle / NIC Card – optional, but useful for an additional layer.

Replacing these components completely resets the signature Vanguard uses for detection. You must also clean residual files and reinstall Windows.

Does Changing Motherboard Remove HWID Ban VALORANT?

Yes, but not by itself. While changing your motherboard is a crucial part of the process, Riot also tracks multiple other components. Therefore, just swapping the motherboard won’t fully reset your hardware identity. A complete strategy must involve multiple changes.

Breakdown of Fixing the VALORANT HWID Ban

Step-by-Step: How to Fix the HWID Ban in VALORANT

Step 1: Backup Important Files Before proceeding, make sure to backup non-game-related files. This process may involve a complete format.

Step 2: Reinstall Windows A clean installation is essential. Use a bootable USB and format all partitions during setup.

Step 3: Replace Targeted Hardware Swap out the motherboard, SSD, and optionally, your RAM and network card. If you're on a budget, begin with the motherboard and SSD.

Step 4: MAC and IP Reset Use a different ISP or a high-quality VPN. Reset your router and use a new MAC address via software or dongle.

Step 5: Create a New Riot Account Ensure that the new email, phone number, and login data have never been associated with your old accounts.

Bypass Methods Without Full Hardware Replacement

If replacing hardware isn't feasible, spoofers provide an alternative. These tools simulate fake hardware IDs and trick Vanguard into recognizing your system as clean.

Popular Spoofing Techniques Include:

• Kernel-level spoofer injections
• Temporary drive serialization changes
• MAC address randomizers
• Full disk imaging and cloning with spoofed IDs

Note: Use only reputable private spoofers. Free or public ones are often blacklisted by Vanguard.

Visual Breakdown: Key Agents and Vanguard Integration

Vanguard’s detection system monitors gameplay at both the kernel and application level. Riot agents, such as Phoenix and Jett, have specific motion patterns used to flag AI-aided players.

Comparison Between Spoofing and Hardware Swap

Final Thoughts

The best fix for a HWID ban in VALORANT is to never get one. However, if you’re already hit, follow the steps carefully—whether through hardware or spoofers—and make sure not to repeat the same mistakes. Cheating not only ruins the game for others but leaves you stuck in costly repairs and tedious resets.